Graham's New York Foyle Cup team to visit Ferney

Editorial Department • Published 10 Jun 2010 16:00 0 Comments

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Former Ballinamallard and Milk Cup coach Graham Brown who will be taking a team from New York to the upcoming Foyle Cup.

Fermanagh native Graham Brown will be in charge of the Ramapo Valley Soccer Club based in Rockland County, New York when they travel to Northern Ireland for the Foyle Cup.

Brown, who now lives in New York, has watched the side have good success over the last year with the side having won the USA Cup last year before adding the Albany Affrims Cup and the Virginia Richmond Cup to their records as well as unbeaten records in three college showcases, Naples in Florida, Quinnipac in Connecticut and the PA Classic in Pennsylvania. They are also in the last eight of the New York State Cup.

The Ramapo Valley side consists of players from the States of New York and New Jersey, and in total eight Counties, and Brown explains that they are looking forward to their trip. And the manager is excited about going back to Ballinamallard United where he will get to the see ground improvements.

"They are very excited about coming to Northern Ireland where we will not only be playing in the Foyle Cup but we have several friendly games organised before and after the tournament. One of the highlights for myself is obviously the return to BUFC where John Quinn is setting us up with a game and visit to the new developments at Ferney," he said.

The club is going from strength to strength and are keen to have teams come over and taste the American experience, states Brown, who is the Technical Director of Coaching.

"Our club has 35 teams from U8 to U23 and indeed this year we have started an over 40 team (which I am obviously too young to play on). Our club has hosted Lisnaskea Rovers and Limerick Schools Select and we are looking to have more teams come over to the States and enjoy a great experience," said Graham.

And the former Ballinamallard man is also heavily involved with St. Thomas Aquinas College who are climbing the rankings.

"Not only is my club team becoming one of the best in the region but my college team, St. Thomas Aquinas College, was ranked 14th in the Nation last year in the Power Point Rankings. We have just completed the signing of a lad from Limerick and are currently looking at a player from Belfast and an ex-Fermanagh player is also looking into a possible signing, so very excited about that."

This article appeared in Impartial Reporter 10 Jun 10

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